Salina Cares, a group unaffiliated with the Salina Family Healthcare (formally known as Salina Cares) has asked the City of Salina for a town hall meeting on fluoridation and wants the city to immediately stop adding fluoride to the water supply. The organization has already held a public forum on fluoridation last September. A local, unofficial poll taken by KSAL radio, showed strong community support for the continuation.

A story (subscription required) appearing in the Parsons Sun this week said the Parsons Water Department has stopped adding fluoride to the water supply because of a mechanical issue with a leaking injection point. According to the article, the city is waiting for the Kansas Department of Health and Environment approval of a new injection site. As a result, fluoride opponents from across the country have contacted the City of Parsons urging the city to not to add fluoride to the city’s water.

This is not the first time that Parsons has had issues with their fluoridation system. In 2002, the city temporarily suspended community water fluoridation because of a design flaw at the water treatment plant. In 2005, improvements had been made and the city once again began fluoridation.

The American Dental Association unreservedly endorses the fluoridation of community water supplies as safe, effective and necessary in preventing tooth decay. This support has been the Association’s position since policy was first adopted in 1950.

The Kansas Dental Association and other statewide oral health groups are keeping in close contact with these communities to provide scientifically sound facts about fluoridation in light of the barrage of anti-fluoridation materials these community leaders are no doubt receiving.